Rivermen re-sign Wheeler, Carkin, add rookie center

PEORIA -- The Peoria Rivermen got a big piece back Tuesday from their inaugural team that finished third overall in the Southern Professional Hockey League last season.

Even if he is just 5-foot-8, 175 pounds.

Feisty winger-defenseman Nick Wheeler was one of three players signed by the Rivermen, who also added veteran defenseman Charlie Carkin and rookie center Mitchell Deruelle.

Wheeler notched 6 goals with 5 assists in 26 games for the Rivermen and was a big power play asset, and a finisher around the net, that the team lacked after he left.

He was called-up to ECHL Cincinnati in early January and never returned, playing 25 games with Cincy and Las Vegas. Wheeler played 33 games in the ECHL with Fort Wayne two years ago.

Carkin was a mainstay defenseman for Peoria last season and one of two players on the team to appear in all 56 games. He notched 4 goals with 15 assists and an Even rating.

Deruelle is a 6-1, 190-pound center who played 41 games, with 8 goals and 11 assists, in parts of three seasons for Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

RIVER READINGS: Former IHL-CHL Bloomington head coach Jarrod Skalde has been named head coach at AHL Norfolk. ... The AHL has revamped its regular-season overtime format. The sudden-death session will be 7 minutes, with four-on-four play until the first whistle occurs after three minutes have expired. Then teams skate three-on-three. Shootouts, if needed, will be three challengers per team.

Dave Eminian can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Check out his sports blog, Cleve's World, at pjstar.com and follow him on Tout and Twitter @icetimecleve.

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